What Makes People Credulous? A study on hoaxes an people's credulity

Why people, all around the world, believe weird things and fall for hoaxes? In his book, entitled "Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition and other Confusions of Our Time," M. Sherman explains why people believe weird things, as mentioned in the title of the book. According to him, most people, who believe weird things and fall for hoaxes are normal human beings. The reason for credulity is "thinking which has gone wrong in some …

…wrong in some way." References: Connolly, K. (2000). A Moving Tale from County Cork. BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/694799.stm retrieved 7/18/03 O'Callaghan, S. (2001). The War of the Worlds: Why the Hoax Worked. Writing, Vol 23, Issue 6. Sherman, M. (1999). Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition and other Confusions of Our Time. NY. WH Freeman & Co. Tucker, E. 'Gorgeous Guy' A Big Fat Lie. US News and World Report, Vol 131, Issue 3.